Pima Vocational High School wins community award

PVHS serves young people who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of traditional high school. For many of the students, Pima Vocational has been their third or fourth school.

The award recognizes that Pima Vocational “has shown exceptional dedication and made significant contributions towards our focus area of helping youth to be academically and socially prepared for school.”PVHS is a program of the Pima County Community Services, Employment and Training Department. The students, who must meet all of the Arizona Essential Skills requirements to graduate, take courses on resume writing and career skills and can earn paid job placements and internships. In addition, students meet weekly with an advisor and attend classes with 15 or fewer students.

Many of the students who attend PVHS are parenting, homeless or have faced addiction issues. While they’re in school they also take vocational courses, intern throughout the city of Tucson and Pima County and often work outside jobs.

“We’re extremely honored that the Junior League has selected us for this award,” Michele Ray, PVHS director, said. “This organization has such a strong history of community building. We’re thrilled to be able to play even a small role in educating this community’s future leaders.”PVHS, a public charter high school for out-of-school youth, is accredited by AdvancED. Accreditation is a voluntary method of quality assurance developed more than 100 years ago by American universities and secondary schools and designed primarily to distinguish schools adhering to a set of educational standards. AdvancED was created through a 2006 merger of the PreK-12 divisions of the North Central Association and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

PVHS offers classes at two campuses: 175 W. Irvington Road and 5025 W. Ina Road in northwest Tucson. Learn more by visiting the Pima Vocational High School website or calling 520-724-9740.